Rebirth in 1986: Unforgettable Regrets

"Uncle, I, let me measure your size." Tang Yue said with a smile towards Tang Mingli, feeling a bit embarrassed to say this.

Tang Mingli looked at her suspiciously and asked, "You want to make clothes for me?"

"..." Tang Yue stared at Tang Mingli.

Tang Mingli had a sudden realization, "You want to make clothes for Si Yu?"

"Cough." Tang Yue cleared her throat and said, "Uncle, it's only polite to reciprocate. I've received his gift, it wouldn't be nice to not return the favor, right?"

"Xiao Yue, have you decided to start dating him?" Tang Mingli asked seriously, "Xiao Yue, this is a lifetime matter."

"Yes." Tang Yue nodded firmly, "Uncle, I am very clear, as long as he does not let me down, I will not abandon him."

Tang Mingli looked at her deeply before saying, "Si Yu has a good character, many women want to get close to him, but he's like a blockhead, ignoring them all."

"Xiao Yue, what do you think he sees in you?" Knowing Tang Yue's mind and confirming that she was serious too, Tang Mingli felt much more relieved. He teased, "You look good, but, he has seen many of your type before."

Tang Yue's face instantly darkened.

Tang Mingli cleared his throat, stopped teasing her, let her take his measurements and then left.

Tang Yue returned to her room, silently thinking about the physical differences between Tang Mingli and Mo Siyu.

Using Tang Mingli's measurements as a reference, she estimated Mo Siyu's approximate size, took the knitting needles, and started knitting the sweater.

It had been a long time since she knitted, and she was a bit rusty at first, but she quickly got the hang of it.

The yarn that Zhang Hualian used for knitting Tang Jun's sweaters, one in teal and the other in grey, she took out both colors, planning to mix these two colors, adding a bit of variety, with grey as stripes weaving through the teal— the color mix should look nice.

If Zhang Hualian runs out, she could go to the county later and buy some more.

Knitting is a delicate task, one must be careful not to make a mistake, as it could ruin the aesthetic of the entire sweater.

Unconsciously, it was not until Zhang Hualian called her for dinner that she realized she had been sitting there knitting for two and a half hours.

After dinner, Tang Yue resumed her knitting battle.

Time passed quickly; when Tang Yue felt extremely sleepy, she crawled into bed to sleep. Once awake, she did nothing but continue knitting. She was fast; the sweater was already one quarter done.

"Xiao Yue, it's time to get up, we are going to Grandma's soon." Zhang Hualian was already busily preparing breakfast early.

"I'm coming." Tang Yue quickly hid the sweater.

She always liked going to Elder Mrs. Zhang's house, even though her aunt was a bit annoying, her grandmother was kind and did not disdain her because of her background, but protected her in every way.

This year's Lunar New Year was more face-giving than last, with alcohol, fruits, current popular pastries, and a stick of Red Plum fragrance cigarettes as gifts.

Just as they reached the Zhang Family's doorstep, they could hear Zhang Qiang's crying from afar.

Zhang Hualian thought something had happened, and rushed inside with her steps hurried.

"What's going on?" As soon as Zhang Hualian entered the yard, she saw Zhang Qiang being chased and beaten by Liu Cuixong. Zhang Qiang hid behind Elder Mrs. Zhang, crying and howling.

"Sister, you're here." Zhang Huafeng saw Zhang Hualian come in and hurriedly welcomed them into the house.

Elder Mrs. Zhang also showed a smile and said, "Alright, the beating and scolding are over, you don't need to say more about Qiangzi."

"Mom, what happened? What did Xiao Qiang do?" Zhang Hualian looked at Liu Cuixong in surprise. Usually, Liu Cuixong doted on her son and couldn't bear to scold him, so why was she so furious this time?

Tang Yue quietly looked at Zhang Qiang. Zhang Qiang had grown taller than before, but he still had an unruly air about him. Even though he was crying, it didn't seem like he was genuinely remorseful.

Probably something to do with video games again?

Elder Mrs. Zhang sighed and said, "Xiao Qiang stole money from home to play video games. His mother is punishing him for that."

"Sister, you don't know, Zhang Qiang usually takes so much money to play games. That was already enough, but now during the New Year, he even learned to steal money." Liu Cuixong was so angry with her son that she felt like hitting herself.

This is too disappointing.

"I didn't steal; it was my New Year's money." Zhang Qiang pursed his lips and said unhappily.

"Where did you get so much New Year's money? Apart from US$25, which was your New Year's money, wasn't the rest mine?" Liu Cuixong felt like fighting with Zhang Qiang.

This back and forth made Tang Yue understand; Zhang Qiang took US$ 100 to play video games. Yesterday, on the second day of the Lunar New Year, he was out in town from morning till night and didn't come home.

Today he planned to play again and got caught by Liu Cuixong, so they ended up fighting.

US$ 100.

Back in 1988, that's equivalent to two months' salary. Zhang Qiang squandered it in just one day; no wonder Liu Cuixong, who doted on her son, was so furious. On the third day of the Lunar New Year, she started disciplining Zhang Qiang.

Now Zhang Qiang and Tang Jun are about the same age, but they are worlds apart. If no one takes care of Zhang Qiang, afraid that in the future...

Tang Yue thought about the past life, when Zhang Qiang hung out with others in the county, ended up dead, and even implicated his uncle and grandmother. She cleared her throat and said, "Grandma, Xiao Jun ranked third in his grade this time in exams. I remember, Xiao Jun's grades used to be similar to Zhang Qiang's."

"Really, Xiao Jun is that impressive?" Elder Mrs. Zhang looked at Tang Jun with surprise. Compared to before, Tang Jun seemed really different, and standing next to Zhang Qiang, the difference in their demeanor was stark.

Upon seeing this, Liu Cuixong yelled at Zhang Qiang.

Zhang Qiang was stunned by the yelling.

"Sister, how do you educate your child? Why has Xiao Jun changed so much?"

Liu Cuixong humbled herself for her son.

In her life, she just wanted her son to achieve something noteworthy.

"I didn't do much; Xiao Yue has been looking after him." Zhang Hualian admitted awkwardly. She seemed too inept as a mother, not knowing when Xiao Jun gradually started to love studying.

"Ah…" Liu Cuixong looked at Tang Yue and thought; they only had about a four-year age difference.

"It's true. Usually, I'm busy, right? It's Xiao Yue who takes care of Xiao Jun," Zhang Hualian said earnestly.